Crowe Property Agency - a working partnership with our tenants

4. You enjoy a happy and successful tenancy in the home of your choice

Tenancy Application

Thank you for applying to rent one of our properties. To enable us to provisionally assess your application please answer all questions fully and honestly.

If you are unsure about any question please contact one of our Property Managers on 01234 344882 or mail your query to info@croweproperty.co.uk

The information you provide will be assessed and if satisfactory we will

a) Offer a tenancy to you subject to satisfactory references being received.

b) Require payment of our agency fee which is non-returnable.

c) Require that you provide identification documents for all adults who will be living at the property

When we have received your Agency Fee and Identification documents you will receive an email and Text message from our referencing company to complete your online application. When this has been submitted the property will be shown as ‘Under Offer’ and we undertake not to offer it to any other party for a period of 72 hours to enable your references to be obtained.

You will be required to complete a referencing process as part of their application.

This will include:

• Identification and address verification

• Financial History

• Employment References

• Current Landlord/Agent references

We will require copies of your identification documents and address verification documents.

Landlords As a first time landlord do I need to decorate the property for my first tenants?

We would advise that the décor is generally neutral in colour. The majority of rented properties have walls which are painted magnolia. As with your own property regular decorating keeps the property in good condition and a well maintained property undoubtedly appeals to good tenants who are more likely to respect your property and keep it in good condition.

Do you charge an agency fee?

Yes, we do charge an agency fee which provides for the following:

• Application Fees including Referencing

• Tenancy Agreement and/or Deed of Guarantee preparation

• Comprehensive photographic inventory of the property

• Check In appointment at the property

• Informing the Council and Utility suppliers that you have moved into the property

The application process is designed to make it simple for you to apply for a property, whilst still ensuring that the relevant references are obtained promptly.

Are tenants allowed to decorate themselves?

The answer to this is ‘Yes’ with your permission. The general rule, which will be documented if a request is received, is that the room concerned should be returned to its original state prior to vacating the property. There can of course be some flexibility with this e.g. a small bedroom painted as nursery may well be suitable for the incoming tenants in which case agreement can be reached on the room being left as it is.

Will I need a Guarantor?

Guarantors will normally be required in the following situations:

• Where a Tenant is unable to fulfill/satisfy the minimum referencing criteria

• Tenants in receipt of Housing Benefit

• Students/sharer tenancies

• Where a Tenant has come into the country from overseas

If a Guarantor is required, they will also go through the comprehensive referencing process.

What do I need to do in terms of maintenance for my first tenants?

Essentially everything should be in working order and safe for the tenant to use. This includes the cooking, heating and plumbing systems, any appliances e.g. fridge/freezer or washing machine and the more minor things of making sure that all the light bulbs are present.

There are legal issues relating to Gas Safety, Electrical Safety and Fire Safety and we will provide further specific advice to you on these important areas.

Do you take a deposit?

Yes we do. This is general equal to one months’ rent plus £200 but may be higher in certain circumstances.

If we are managing the property, we will lodge the deposit with one of the Government approved Deposit Schemes and deal with the mandatory notifications.

We maybe able to offer a Nil Deposit Option. Please see the link on the tenant’s page for further information.

What happens if a tenant wants to erect a satellite dish?

What happens if a tenant wants to erect a satellite dish?

Generally this would be agreed to unless there is good reason to object e.g. a covenant in the Deeds of the Property which prevents aerials and satellite dishes being erected on the property (this is common on flats/apartments).

What happens to my deposit at the end of the tenancy?

The deposit is lawfully the tenants’ money and so any claim by the Landlord on your deposit must be reasonable and justified. If the property is managed by us we will conduct a check-out inspection and use the initial inventory and the conditions laid out in the tenancy agreement to assess the condition of the property and any fixtures, fittings or furniture that were provided.

The majority of tenants will receive their deposit back in full. Occasionally there can be a minor issue which we would negotiate with the tenant concerned. If the issue cannot be resolved, then it is referred to an independent adjudication process.

Further information can be obtained from the tenancy deposit scheme holding your deposit.

Do I have to allow the tenants to keep pets at the property?

No, you don’t. However a large number of prospective tenants do have pets of one kind or another. We do establish whether prospective tenants have pets before showing a property to them and what type of pet they have. We will always clarify with you whether pets are acceptable or not. An increasing number of tenants looking for long term rentals do own pets, so we would advise you to consider whether your property is suitable for pet owners.

Do I need to have Contents insurance?

The simple answer is ‘No’, but we do recommend that you consider taking out a policy to protect your own possessions. Some policies will also provide cover in the event that accidental damage is caused to the Landlords property e.g. spilling red wine and staining a carpet.

The link on the bottom of the tenant’s page will take you to our insurance broker.

What Insurance do I need to have?

There are two types of insurance affecting Landlords:

a) Relating to the Building

b) Relating to the Tenancy

a) Buildings insurance – this is a mandatory requirement that you have buildings insurance. It is your responsibility to ensure that the insurance is valid and meets your needs. Specialist Landlord Insurance is available and we can introduce to insurance brokers who provide this. You may also want to consider a separate contents insurance policy as well, particularly if the property is furnished or part-furnished.

b) Rent Guarantee and Legal Protection Insurance is also available and will ensure that if the tenant defaults on their rent that you continue to receive the rent in full. In the unfortunate situation of having to take legal proceedings to regain possession of the property this insurance will also cover those risks. Rent Guarantee and Legal Protection Insurance can be obtained when a new tenant moves into your property, subject to terms and conditions.

Who is responsible for maintenance?

Landlords have specific legal responsibilities in relation to maintaining the property e.g. heating and water systems. However, minor maintenance can be the responsibility of the tenant e.g. if the hinges on a door are squeaking.

Any maintenance issue should be reported to the office if we are managing the property or direct to the Landlord if the property is being managed direct.

What references do you take up with prospective tenants?

Tenants will go through a comprehensive referencing process as part of their application.

This will include:

• Identification and address verification

• Right to Rent Checks for non EU Nationals

• Financial History

• Employment References

• Current Landlord/Agent references

If a Guarantor is required, they will also go through the comprehensive referencing process.

Who is responsible for Council Tax and Utility Bills?

The tenant is responsible for all the bills during the tenancy unless specified otherwise in the tenancy agreement.

As part of our service to you we will inform the Council, Water, Electricity and Gas suppliers that you have moved into or out of a property and of the relevant meter readings where appropriate.

Do you take a deposit?

Yes we do. This is general equal to one months’ rent plus £200.00 but may be higher in certain circumstances.

If we are managing the property, we will lodge the deposit with one of the Government approved Deposit Schemes and deal with the mandatory notifications.

We also offer a Nil Deposit Option which provides significant protection for you as a landlord whilst reducing the initial costs for new tenants. We will be more than happy to explain this more to you.

Do you accept tenants who are claiming Housing Benefit (Local Housing Allowance)?

Landlords can choose to make their properties available to tenants who are in receipt of Housing Benefit if they wish to do so. Generally, a guarantor will be required.

What happens if I need to claim on the tenant’s deposit at the end of the tenancy?

The deposit is lawfully the tenants’ money and so any claim on the deposit must be reasonable and justified. If the property is managed by us we will conduct a check-out inspection and use the initial inventory and the conditions laid out in the tenancy agreement to advise you if there is a valid claim to be made. The importance of a comprehensive inventory cannot be overstated.

Will the Landlord provide white goods (Fridge/ Washing Machine etc)?

There generally is no obligation on the Landlord to provide ‘white goods.

Sometimes white goods may be left at the property for use by the tenant but are ‘gifted’ so the responsibility for repair falls to the tenant. You will be advised as to the position prior to applying for a tenancy.

Is an inventory necessary?

Letting a property without having a professional inventory leaves a Landlord very vulnerable if damage to the property or missing items are identified at the end of the tenancy. The deposit belongs to the tenant. All of the tenancy deposit schemes will work on the principle that the Landlord should produce credible evidence to support their claim to retain some or all of the tenant’s deposit.

We produce professional inventories supported by time stamped photographs and a video which will provide excellent evidence in the event of a dispute.

Are we allowed to decorate ourselves?

The answer to this is ‘Yes’ with the Landlords written permission. The general rule, which will be documented if a request is received, is that the room concerned should be returned to its original state prior to vacating the property.

Who is responsible for Council Tax and Utility Bills?

The tenant is responsible for all the bills during the tenancy unless agreed otherwise through the tenancy agreement..

Do you accept tenants who are claiming Housing Benefit (Local Housing Allowance)?

Yes we do, Tenants who are in receipt of housing benefit will be required to provide a suitable guarantor.

Will I be able to erect a satellite dish?

Generally this would be agreed to unless there is good reason to object e.g. a covenant in the Deeds of the Property which prevents aerials and satellite dishes being erected on the property (this is common on flats/apartments).

When will I receive my rent?

The rent becomes due on the monthly anniversary of the tenancy start date. Tenants pay by Standing Order. We guarantee to pay you within 5 days of receiving the rent. On most occasions we transfer the rent on the same day.

Some tenants will request a different payment date and we will always seek your consent before agreeing to any changes.

Can I keep pets at the property?

No, unless you have written permission to do so from the Landlord. Many Landlords are quite willing to allow pets in their properties, but permission must be obtained first. If you have a pet or intend to get a pet this must be declared when you apply to rent the property.

Some properties will be restricted from keeping pets e.g. flats and apartments.

If you do have a pet at the property a higher deposit may be required and there may be an additional term in your tenancy agreement in relation to cleaning at the end of the tenancy.

Do I need provide furniture or White Goods?

The majority of properties are let unfurnished. There are some exceptions where tenants have a specific need for furnished accommodation e.g. Students or tenants who are temporarily working away from home. Some landlords choose to provide white goods but there is no obligation to do so unless the appliances are integrated. If you are providing furniture or white goods these must comply with Fire Safety Regulations and Electrical Regulations.